Mike Dowling
After graduating from Duke Law School, Mike Dowling began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Terrence W. Boyle, a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. During his clerkship, Mr. Dowling assisted the Court in researching and adjudicating a substantial number of federal criminal and civil matters.
After leaving his federal clerkship, Mike practiced for nearly a decade with one of the oldest and most respected litigation firms in the State of North Carolina.
During his career, Mike has developed wide-ranging experience in all phases of complex civil and criminal litigation. He has represented grand jury witnesses, negotiated favorable resolutions in high-stakes criminal and civil matters, conducted extensive pretrial discovery, and tried cases to verdict.
Mike also has significant experience with complex appeals in the North Carolina appellate courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
Mike lives in Raleigh with his wife and five kids. When he is not practicing law, you will find him watching or coaching his kids’ sports teams.
Education
- Duke University School of Law, J.D. (2010), Duke Law Journal, Article Editor, Volumes 58 & 59
- Duke University, A.B. in Psychology (2006) summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Dean’s List, Dean’s List with Distinction, Varsity Letterman and full athletic scholarship recipient (football), Atlantic Coast Conference All-Academic team (2005), Mike Suglia student-athlete award winner
Clerkship
- Law Clerk to The Honorable Terrence W. Boyle, United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (2010-2011)
Admissions
- North Carolina
- S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
- S. District Court for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina
Professional and Civic
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Nominee for Permanent Membership, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
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Member, United States Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel concerning the reappointment of U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, II (appointed by the Court in 2022)
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Member, United States Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel concerning the appointment of a full-time United States Magistrate Judge at Greenville, North Carolina (appointed by the Court in 2022)
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Member, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina Local Criminal Rules Committee (since 2022)
Recognition and Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America™ in the Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White Collar categories (since 2020)
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North Carolina Super Lawyers™ “Rising Star” in the Criminal Defense category (2017-2023)
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Business North Carolina™ “Legal Elite” in the “Young Guns” category (2018, 2021 -2023)
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Young Lawyer of the Quarter, North Carolina Bar Association YLD (2013)
Representative Matters
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Partial acquittal and downward variance granted at sentencing after week-long trial in complex marriage fraud and obstruction of justice case. United States v. S.A. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
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Dismissal of all felony charges and probationary sentence obtained for a client who attempted to smuggle controlled substances into a federal prison and was originally charged with four federal felony offenses. United States v. A.S. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
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50 month sentence for client involved in substantial crack cocaine conspiracy, where the advisory guideline range recommended imprisonment for 22 to 27 years after conviction at trial. United States v. C.C. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
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48 month sentence for client charged with various crimes related to the production of methamphetamine. The client’s advisory guideline range was 100 to 125 months of imprisonment. United States v. J.R. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
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84 month sentence for client who faced a mandatory life sentence if convicted at trial on conspiracy to distribute cocaine charges. United States v. P.Q. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
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66 month sentence imposed for client convicted of trafficking methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, where the advisory guideline range recommended a term of 97-106 months. United States v. F.D. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
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130 month sentence imposed in firearm and drug trafficking case where the advisory guideline range recommended a term of 262-327 months of imprisonment. United States v. E.F. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
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Probation for a client convicted of being a felon-in-possession of a firearm, despite the advice of the federal sentencing guidelines recommending a term of imprisonment, and despite the government demanding incarceration. United States v. D.B. (Eastern District of North Carolina)